Völkl

Völkl is a German ski maker founded in Straubing, Bavaria, in 1923 by Georg Völkl. Wikipedia reports that it has been part of Elevate Outdoor Collective, backed by Kohlberg & Company, since 2017. It matters as one of the long established European alpine ski brands.

What is Völkl?

Völkl is a German manufacturer of alpine skis, ski poles and ski skins, based in Straubing. Tennis racquets carry the Völkl name but are made by a separate company, Völkl Tennis, at a factory in Bogen, Germany, and the two lines have separate websites.

History

According to Wikipedia, Franz Völkl began making boats, sleds and carriages in the 1910s. His son Georg took over in 1923 and made the first skis, and by the early 1950s the company was a leading European ski maker. Tennis racquets were first produced in the early 1970s, with the Zebra an early composite racquet. The V1 Classic became the signature ski model in 1994, and snowboards were produced from 1997 to 2017.

Ownership

Jarden, which then owned Völkl and Marker, acquired K2 and Line in 2007. Newell acquired Jarden in 2016, and in 2017 Newell sold Völkl and K2 to Kohlberg & Company, creating Elevate Outdoor Collective. Elevate is a Bellevue, Washington based snowsports company held by Kohlberg. The page does not confirm the position in 2026, so this profile reports ownership as of the source.

Why it matters

Völkl is a clear example of how a family workshop became a brand inside a private equity owned outdoor group, sharing a parent with K2. It competes with Atomic, Rossignol, Fischer and Head. The sources consulted do not give revenue, distribution channels or technology programmes, so those are not covered.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Völkl?

Wikipedia reports that Völkl has been part of Elevate Outdoor Collective since 2017, a company held by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company. This profile has not verified a change since.

Where is Völkl from?

Völkl is from Germany. It was founded in 1923 and is based in Straubing, Bavaria.

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